->''"It all comes down to having fun. We spend our lives trapped, when all we really want to do is play. So, let the people play! Let us build a [[{{Utopia}} Utopian Playland]]."''-->--'''Dr. Steel'''

[[ReclusiveArtist Creator]].

[[MadArtist Entertainer]].

[[VisionaryVillain Visionary]].

These were just a few words applicable to Dr. Phineas Waldolf Steel. Formerly in the toymaking industry, Dr. Steel became frustrated at the lack of vision and originality, rebelled against his ex-employers and [[DisproportionateRetribution burned the place down]]. He became a MadScientist who sought to TakeOverTheWorld, with conspiracy propaganda threaded intricately through music and toys for children worldwide. However, being a ''mad'' scientist, said toys are along the lines of NightmareFuel: Babies with buzzsaws, acid squirtguns, kewpie grenades, and it doesn't even begin to start there.

Most importantly, however, is the music. Dr. Steel defied all genre, having been described by Rue Morgue magazine as "[[{{hiphop}} hip-hop]] {{industrial}} opera", but most importantly is the fact that all of them are So. Damn. Catchy. Though his music only spans about three dozen songs across five [=CDs=], and that most online stores only carry them in .mp3 rather than physical discs, Dr. Steel put just as much love and care into each individual song as many artists do for entire discs. A very underground artist, he nonetheless made an appearance on the Jay Leno show and [[http://www.mtv.com/photos/steampunk-style-and-fashion/1595808/3201113/photo.jhtml was even given a nod by MTV]]. He later started to put more effort into clever and hilarious videos, which can still be seen on [=YouTube=].

Sadly, in 2011 Dr. Steel entered an early (and apparently forced) retirement (although some claim he was actually kidnapped by aliens). However, [[Website/ToySoldiersUnite his army]] marches on, taking his philosophy to the masses and building the Utopian Playland he envisioned.

[[http://www.youtube.com/user/DoctorSteel/videos His YouTube channel is here]], and [[http://www.myspace.com/drsteel his MySpace is here]]. Listen, and then [[http://www.toysoldiersunite.com submit yourself]] to [[Website/ToySoldiersUnite the movement he spawned]], dedicated to taking over the world in his name!

Not to be confused with [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duncan_Steel the other Dr. Steel]]. Or [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Steel_%28mathematician%29 the other Dr. Steel]]. Or [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Jim the other Dr. Steel]]. [[OverlyLongGag Or the ]]''[[OverlyLongGag other]]'' [[http://www.metal-archives.com/band.php?id=13184 Dr. Steel]]. Or [[Series/GetSmart Dr. Steele]].----!!!Tropes he displays:

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Tropes A-C]]* AcmeProducts: Dr. Steel seems to order some of his supplies from them; he can produce a large hammer or lit stick of dynamite at will...* ''Music/AlsoSprachZarathustra'': The motif is inserted into the song "Spaceboy."* AncientAstronauts: Dr. Steel believes in Zechariah Sitchin's theory that humanity was created by aliens that posed as gods to the ancient Sumerians.* AncientConspiracy: Dr. Steel believes (whether in actuality or whether it's part of the crazy act is anyone's guess) that the world is controlled by a cabal of alien "Illuminati".* AntiVillain: Despite going criminally insane and burning down a toy factory in a rampaging fit of revenge, Dr. Steel is really a kind-hearted soul who only wants to make the world a better place. (For himself...)** On the other hand, he may well be the only person ever to be able to label his propaganda ''as'' "Propaganda" and have people totally eat it up, so whyever he's really doing it, he's doing it right.** His public service commercials (as seen on Youtube and other places) focus heavily upon the power of imagination and of improving your general life; [[AntiVillain very anti-villainous.]]* ArsonMurderAndJaywalking: "[[http://suicidegirls.com/interviews/Dr.+Steel/ War, destruction, genocide, mini-malls.]]"* AttackOfThe50FootWhatever: The song "Atomic Superstar", featuring the original {{Kaiju}}, Godzilla.* AwesomeAnachronisticApparel: The Doctor's everyday apparel, when not in his [[BadassLongcoat labcoat]]. (See ManOfWealthAndTaste below.)* AwesomeMcCoolname: Dr. Phineas Waldolf Steel.* BadassCape: Steel sometimes wears a black one... made of PVC.* BadassLongcoat: Steel almost always wears a long PVC labcoat.** On his stage show, he has Go-Go dancers dressed in PVC halters and miniskirts that match his labcoat.* BadSanta: In ''The Dr. Steel Christmas Special'', Santa gives a little girl a Polly Pukes-A-Lot™ doll from [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast World Domination Toys]].** To be fair, it's what she wanted...*** Of course, he didn't have to ''sit'' on it...* BaldOfAwesome - Doctor Steel is cleanly shaved bald. Apparently, this wasn't always the case; in a fabricated Los Angeles Time news story, Dr. Steel is seen being dragged away by police, sporting a full head of hair. A [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvOJHyDypf8 fan-made video]] takes this idea [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome one step further]], showing Dr. Steel at the moment of his psychotic break, shaving his head in a parody of BritneySpears.* BaldOfEvil: Presumably intentional.* BankRobbery: One of the ways Dr. Steel financed his giant robot construction, according to his song, "Build the Robots".* BeardOfEvil: A big pointy goatee.* BecomeARealBoy: The robotic boy in "Lullabye Bue".* BiasSteamroller: For several years, [[{{Wikipedia}} The Other Wiki]] refused to allow [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_Steel an entry for Dr. Steel]], claiming he was "[[Administrivia/ThereIsNoSuchThingAsNotability not notable]]" enough (although allowing peers of equal notability), and articles about him were summarily (and arbitrarily) deleted without review.* BigShutUp: [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCKkcex6_Hg#t=3m20s STOP!]]* [[BlackShirt Black Shirts]]: In a deliberate parody of fascist paramilitary organizations, Dr. Steel's Army of Toy Soldiers (his fan club base) wear black uniforms.* BraggingThemeTune: His song, "The Doctor Steel Show". A small bump of this song is played at the beginning of each episode of ''The Dr. Steel Show'', and a slightly altered instrumental loop plays at the end of Episode 1.* BrandX: Dr. Steel's "Ronald [=McRaygun=]" mentioned in his song, "The Dr. Steel Show".* BunniesForCuteness: After visiting a music website who's anime-inspired animation seemed to consist of "Tiny Little Bunnies Eating Hamburgers", Doctor Steel wrote a song about it. * CardCarryingVillain: Dr. Steel is apparently a member of the [[WeirdTradeUnion Mad Scientists Union (Local 42)]], and also seems to be on an Evil Genius Committee (see ''Supervillain School'', below).* CallBack: "Bohemian Grove" is a callback to the song "Conspiracy".* {{Camp}}: everything he or his fans do is done consciously and conspicuously [[UpToEleven over the top]].* ChainsawGood: Steel's most popular toy was the Buzzsaw Baby, a kewpie doll with rotating saw blades for hands.* CharacterBlog: Steel keeps one on his MySpace page.* CheshireCatGrin: All of Dr. Steel's robots have one.* ChildrenAreInnocent: Dr. Steel loves children, for this very reason.* ChristmasSpecial: The ''[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVfSJPKA0VM Dr. Steel Christmas Special]]'' and ''[[http://www.toysoldiersunite.com/media/mp3/adrsteelchristmasmp3.mp3 A Dr. Steel Christmas]]''. Dr. Steel (and his loyal Toy Soldiers) also celebrate [[YouMeanXmas Steelmas]], which [[ThereAreNoCoincidences coincidentally]] falls on the same day.** The Toy Soldiers also celebrate [[FictionalHoliday Toy Soldier Day]] every [[IncrediblyLamePun March 4th]], or the nearest Saturday to it (usually by going to the nearest Disney theme park).* ConspicuousGloves: Steel is never seen without black PVC gloves, even when he's not working in the lab. (His gloves are even convertible: stylish to-the-wrist gloves for day-wear, adding a lower arm-length extension when he wears his labcoat.)* ConspiracyKitchenSink: Chemtrails, fluoridation, alien illuminati...* ConspiracyTheorist: Phineas himself, possibly. The manifesto on his official website explains that the human race is an experiment "cooked up in an alien easy bake oven" by the [[AncientAstronauts Alien]] Illumanati, who constantly manipulate our perception. But then again, he freely admits [[ConspiracyKitchenSink he's crazy...]]* CoolPet: Dr. Steel's hamsters.* CoverVersion: The ''InspectorGadget'' theme song, ''Getting Directions'' (a quirky version of the ''Series/SesameStreet'' theme song).* CreatingLife: Subverted in ''The Dr. Steel Show'', [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgQEzR9WN5A Episode 2]]. Dr. Steel begins to excitedly scream "It's working!" as his doll-robot experiment begins to walk around - only to have it stop when he [[GameOver runs out of quarters]]. Played straight in [[http://vimeo.com/14623042 the video for "Childhood (Don't) A-Go-Go"]], when he breathes on a doll and brings it to life.* CreditsGag: Several in the credits of Episodes 1 and 2 of ''The Dr. Steel Show'' and the ''Dr. Steel Christmas Special''.[[quoteright:180:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/180-steelscout.jpg]][[caption-width-right:180:Cookie, mister?]]* CreepyDoll / CreepyCute: Dr. Steel makes several of these (the Buzzsaw Baby, Psycho Sally, Polly Pukes-A-Lot, the Rabies Babies line, etc.).* CreepyCircusMusic: Doctor Steel wrote some creepy themes for [[http://hecklesandtwitch.com/ Heckles and Twitch]]'s website, and some of his own songs have similar calliope music.* CrowdSong: "Dr. Steel" is so catchy you may just start singing along in public places; especially good for picking up a chant of "Dr. Steel! Dr. Steel!"* CrystalSkull: Sung about.* CutLexLuthorACheck: The Doc wanted to sell his rather twisted toy designs, but the toy company he worked for couldn't see his vision. So he started his own toy company (after burning down theirs) and started building giant robots to take over the world with.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Tropes D-F]]* DareToBeBadass: Many of his PSA videos encourage the viewer to break past their own limitations to improve themselves and the world.* DarkIsEvil: Somewhat averted (if you accept Dr. Steel as being evil rather than just twisted); Steel usually wears a white lab coat. He does however also have a DastardlyWhiplash-style black top hat and cape (see below).* DarkMessiah: Dr. Steel wants to makeover this current CrapsackWorld into a Utopian Playland. By force of giant robots, if necessary.* DastardlyWhiplash: one of Dr. Steel's steampunk outfits includes a black stovepipe top hat and black PVC cape ([[CoatHatMask along with his ubiquitous goggles]]), reminiscent of 19th century villains.* DeadPetSketch: In [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HTqbxYsYwc Episode 1]] of ''The Dr. Steel Show'', Dr. Steel announces that it's time to "[[PetTheDog Feed the Hamster]]" (a segment with its own musical intro). However he soon notices that the hamster has expired. After a brief moment of mourning (with accompanying [[GriefSong sad violin music]]), he quips, "[[AnimalTesting But it does mean that my experiment ]][[YouCantMakeAnOmelette was a success!]]" before putting the body in a pneumatic tube and launching it off his island.* DeathRay: "The Doctor Steel Show" lyrics--> Bali Hai may call you--> Hidden Isle of a death ray--> This is my secret island--> Go away, go away* DemonicDummy: Dr. Steel used to have a ventriloquist dummy as part of his stage show; on the DVD with commentary of his live performance he says regarding it, "As you may already know, ventriloquist dummys, ''all'' ventriloquist dummys, are inherently evil."* DepravedKidsShowHost: Inverted. Dr. Steel plays a kid's show host on his "Dr. Steel Show" films, who is outwardly someone you wouldn't want your kids anywhere near (a mad scientist with world domination plans and questionable scientific ethics who makes dangerous and/or gross toys), but in reality he is a FriendToAllChildren with a heart of gold.* DiabolicalMastermind: Natch.* DressedAllInRubber: The TropeNamer.* EEqualsMCHammer: In "Fibonacci Sequence"--literally, too, as he raps about it.* EmperorScientist: Dr. Steel's goal.* {{Epigraph}}: A lot of Dr. Steel's songs start with quotes, either fictional or real. (See RadioVoice below.)* EverybodyDoTheEndlessLoop: On his website, Steel had a page where you could animate him doing loops of various dance moves (the monkey, the sprinkler, the cabbage patch, the robot, etc.) by pressing buttons underneath him.** This page was parodied in the [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvOJHyDypf8 fan-made video]] for "Lament for a Toy Factory."* EverybodyHatesMathematics: Averted so very much. "Fibonacci Sequence" is catchy as all hell.** And it's one of his more popular songs.* EverythingsBetterWithMonkeys: In his propaganda video, Dr. Steel distracts an audience with a dancing monkey puppet.** Also referenced in a line in his song, "On The Run": "‎Now I need a decoy, now where's that dancing monkey?"* EvilGenius: Natch.* EvilIsBigger / LargeAndInCharge: Averted. Steel was rather short (around 5'4", by some accounts).* EvilIsHammy: Of course! If you're not having fun, what's the point?* EvilIsNotAToy, but it makes and sells them.* EvilKnockoff: Although it probably wasn't, a lot of people perceived [[WebVideo/DoctorHorriblesSingAlongBlog Dr. Horrible]] as an Evil Knockoff of Dr. Steel. (Although these days Dr. Steel gets more comparison to [[WesternAnimation/TheVentureBrothers Dr. Venture]]... or [[VideoGame/BatmanArkhamCity Dr. Strange]]...).* EvilLaugh: The Doc can be heard engaging in one near the end of his self-titled song, "Dr. Steel."* EvilPlan: He's "a man with a plan and a mechanical band, who [[Series/HRPufnstuf can't do a little cause he can't do enough!]]"* EvilTastesGood: Mind control cookies! And cupcakes! (Well, maybe not so much the cupcakes. Dr. Steel calls the batch he made in ''The Dr. Steel Show'' Episode 2, "disgusting".)* FakeBand: Dr. Steel has a "mechanical (robot) band" - which never seems to work, so he uses real musicians on those rare times he does live performances.* FanVid: Inverted in his music video for "[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wZ5qGQ78io Back and Forth]]", where he made a VideoFullOfFilmClips of his fans dancing and singing along to his music.** Several of his fans have made impressive {{FanVid}}s (which Dr. Steel encourages), most notably:*** Caleb Allen's masterful portrayal of "[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvOJHyDypf8 Lament for a Toy Factory]]".*** Starkravenmad's Flash videos to "[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVvlVHdLCx0 Back and Forth]]", "[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGlr9iNBejA Fibonacci Sequence]]" and "[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ci9CCvTHvpM Build the Robots]]", and, probably the best, "[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ConLzMk-jg&feature=related We Decide It]]".* FauxtivationalPoster: Dr. Steel has done amusing riffs on the American Library Association's [[http://www.toysoldiersunite.com/propaganda/1077/2/3646 "READ" posters]] and the [[http://www.toysoldiersunite.com/propaganda/1077/0/3702 Got Milk? posters]].* FireBreathingWeapon: Gasoline-filled super soakers.* FistOfRage: Steel is often posed in his propaganda art making one (and it's part-and-parcel of his trademark salute), and does it as he's suiting up for "Experiment Time" in ''The Dr. Steel Show'', Episode 2.* FourthWallMailSlot: Parodied in ''The Dr. Steel Show'', Episode 1, when Dr. Steel receives [[VocalDissonance email from a fan]].* FreePrizeAtTheBottom: In one of his songs, Dr. Steel playfully subverts the familiar wording, "Toy Surprise Inside", changing it to "[[StealthPun Toys Uprise]] Inside."* FriendToAllChildren: See the aforementioned ChildrenAreInnocent.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Tropes G-I]]* [[HumongousMecha Giant Robots]]: Dr. Steel's back-up plan for world domination if the whole "domination through entertainment" idea doesn't pan out.* GirlScoutsAreEvil: A segment of Dr. Steel's Army of Toy Soldiers are called "[[ScoutOut Toy Scouts]]". An [[AlwaysFemale all-female]] regiment, they occasionally assist Dr. Steel during stage performances - and distribute [[{{Brainwashed}} mind control]] cookies.* GlovedFistOfDoom: Often.* GogglesDoNothing: They just look damned cool.** Well, given that in one of his videos he's seen welding, they probably ''do'' do something. But he wears them 100% of the time whether he's welding or not, so...*** In his video interview, [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07-cpKE9bUw "Vision"]], he says that he wears the glasses of a blind man as a metaphor.** Since many Toy Soldiers are steampunks, a lot of them wear goggles as well.* GovernmentConspiracy: See ''AncientConspiracy'' above.* GrowingUpSucks: Dr. Steel's other primary motivation, besides revenge. Sung about in "Childhood (Don't) A-Go-Go."* {{Hammerspace}}: PlayedForLaughs in [[http://www.toysoldiersunite.com/popups/videoplayer.php?mid=91 this edition of ]]''[[http://www.toysoldiersunite.com/popups/videoplayer.php?mid=91 Ask Dr. Steel]]''.* [[CharacterAsHimself Hamster 65 As Himself]]: Credits at the end of Episode 2 of ''The Dr. Steel Show''.* HappyDance: Dr. Steel jauntily dances at the end of Episode 1 of ''The Dr. Steel Show''. There is also a section on his website where you can make him do several dance moves to some old-timey music. In Caleb Allen's FanVid of "Lament for a Toy Factory", the actor playing Dr. Steel breaks into these dance moves as the helicopter spotlight hits him - and the music from the website begins to play.* HarmlessVillain: Although having a villainous outer appearance, Dr. Steel's goals are really very positive and even kid-friendly. He just wants to make the world a better place (for himself). A running theme within his videos and songs (besides building giant robots/killer toys) is the virtue of independent thinking and imagination.[[quoteright:180:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/180-steelnurse.jpg]][[caption-width-right:180:Hello, Nurse!]]* HelloNurse: Dr. Steel has "Nurses" (members of his Army of Toy Soldiers that dress in sexy nurse uniforms) [[FanServiceWithASmile attend him]] - both on stage and other public appearances and in several of his videos.* HomemadeSweaterFromHell: Dr. Steel gets one in the ''Dr. Steel Christmas Special''.* HotScientist: Quite a large number of women find Dr. Steel incredibly attractive.* IAmSong: His self-titled song, "Dr. Steel".* IAmTheBand: Dr. Steel writes all his songs, and plays all the instruments in studio. He'd play ''live'' gigs solo, too - except for the fact that his robot band keeps malfunctioning and he has to fall back on a back-up band of live musicians.* TheIgor: Dr. Steel's robot servants are all hunchbacks.* ImprovisedWeapon: Gasoline-filled Super Soakers.* IncessantMusicMadness: In the music video for "Back and Forth", there's a little kid at the beginning playing an annoying plastic trumpet, while his brother covers his ears. At the end of the video the brother suddenly gets in his face and shouts, "STOP!"* IncrediblyObviousBomb: One of Dr. Steel's presents in "The Dr. Steel Christmas Special". Complete with loud ticking, bundled sticks of TNT, a nest of wires and a huge clock.* IRejectYourReality: He's crazy. And a big believer in visualization and subjective reality. He calls himself a "Doctor of Reality Engineering."* IslandBase: Shown in the episodes of ''The Dr. Steel Show''. Where his secret laboratory is located.* ItsAllAboutMe: "See, I'm gonna make the world a better place - for me." - "Build the Robots" lyrics.* IWantSong: Dr. Steel has at least two: "Greedy", about wanting to find success in the recording business, and "Singularity", about his desire for technological integration. But it could be argued several others also qualify.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Tropes K-N]]* KidsRock: "Smokey's Theme".* LabPet: Dr. Steel has a lab hamster in "The Dr. Steel Show" episodes 1 and 2. The one in episode 1 dies, giving him a moment of grief ([[CrowningMomentOfFunny but only a moment...]]), and prompting him to get a new one for the second episode. While he's shown as being fond of them as pets, he's apparently not too attached to them (either that or he's not very good at naming pets); the second one seen has the imaginative name "Hamster 65". * LargeHam: Doctor Steel [[ChewingTheScenery goes through a lot of scenery]]; Consciously PlayedForLaughs.* LaughablyEvil.* LaughingMad: Steel can be heard engaging in a mad laugh near the end of his self-titled song, "Dr. Steel."* LaughTrack: Used as a gag at the beginning of ''The Dr. Steel Show'', episode 1. Dr. Steel enters his lab at the beginning of the show to wild applause, which he reacts humbly to... then [[LampshadeHanging reaches over and turns a dial which turns off the applause track]].* LivingToys: In [[http://vimeo.com/14623042 the music video for ]]''[[http://vimeo.com/14623042 Childhood (Don't) A-Go-Go]]'', Dr. Steel breathes on a creepy toy and brings it to life; it subsequently brings all the other creepy toys to life.* LotusPosition: Dr. Steel assumes this position (complete with saffron robes) in his video, "The Singularity".* LuddWasRight: Dr. Steel's idea of a perfect world is where everything un-fun is done with automatons. He has already attempted the creation of a robot band, but things [[GoneHorriblyWrong went horribly wrong]].** He did however manage to finally get them working in his [[http://vimeo.com/14623042 video for ]]"[[http://vimeo.com/14623042 Childhood (Don't) A-Go-Go]]". [[spoiler:At least in miniature...]]** He also believed that machines would eventually take over the world.* MadArtist: Undeniably a gifted artist, Steel screams "I'm the greatest creator this world's ever seen!" ... while blowing up a toy factory.* MadBomber: Dr. Steel sings about laughing maniacally while setting off explosives.* MadDoctor: Not sure what he's a doctor ''of'', but he is attended by sexy nurses.* TheMadHatter: "I am crazy. And it's a great load off my mind."* MadMathematician: [[ForScience FOR SCIENCE!]]* MadScientist: ''Duhurrrrrrr''.* MadScientistLaboratory: In the music section of his site. Looks rather charming, too.* TheManBehindTheCurtain: in his PSA, "Reality Engineering."* ManOfWealthAndTaste: When not dressed in his [[BadassLongcoat labcoat]], Dr. Steel usually dresses in an [[AristocratsAreEvil Aristocratic]] neo-Victorian {{Steampunk}} style, complete with [[NiceHat Top Hat]]. (He even has his own personal clothier!)* MassHypnosis: Dr. Steel uses [[{{Brainwashed}} mind control]] [[EvilTastesGood cookies]] and [[SubliminalSeduction subliminal messages]]. And a particularly mesmerizing "hidden" [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzHb4SErsWc Positive Affirmation track]] on a few of his [=CD=]s.* UsefulNotes/McDonalds: In one song, Dr. Steel sings that he has a "Ronald [=McRaygun=]".* MechanicalEvolution: Dr. Steel believed that machines would eventually get so sophisticated that they would develop sentience. And we would screw up the world so much that only they would be fit to continue to survive in it.* MerchandiseDriven: Dr. Steel owned his own toy company, [[http://www.worlddominationtoys.com/ World Domination Toys]], and sings about his listeners buying his toys. (Also pimps one on one of his videos.)--> "You can think for yourselves / Or you can buy all my toys..."** A bit of a subversion, as there are no toys you can actually buy there. (At least not yet!)* MilkingTheGiantCow: "Damn thee, spam - DAMN THEE!"* MinskyPickup: In the beginning of his song, "The Dr. Steel Show."* {{Mockumentary}}: Dr. Steel's "propaganda" film, ''Building a Utopian Playland'' is shot as a documentary.* MorallyAmbiguousDoctorate: No one's sure what he's a doctor ''of'', exactly (he's said he's a Doctor of "Reality Engineering"); he's hellbent on taking over the world using an army of robotic toys and brainwashed "toy soldiers" so that he can make the world a better place (for him).* MotionlessChin: The hamster in ''The Dr. Steel Show'', Episode 2. ("God, you're weird.")* MrFanservice: Dr. Steel seems to invoke [[{{Squee}} this sort of response]] in a great number of women. Especially when he takes his shirt off.* MultipleDemographicAppeal: Older people, younger people, boys, girls, all around are hailing Dr. Steel as their new lord and king.* MusicalEpisode: ''The Dr. Steel Show'', Episode 3.* MyLittlePanzer: His line of freakish toys, which would give [[http://everything2.com/title/Irwin+Mainway Irwin Mainway]] a run for his money.* NeoclassicalPunkZydecoRockabilly: Dr. Steel's music has been described as "Industrial Hip-Hop Opera."* NewTechIsNotCheap: In the song "Build the Robots", Dr. Steel laments about building a high-tech giant robot army:--> I need assembly lines--> A crew and much more time.--> The money's all mine--> And my funds are getting thin.--> I'm gonna have to rob a bank again.--> 'Cause I'm spending every dime and--> I'm spending all my time to--> Build the robots.* NiceShoes: Because of his stature, Steel wore tall platform boots. In one appearance, they had lights in the soles.* NoAnimalsWereHarmed: At the end of the credit crawl of ''The Dr. Steel Show'', Episode 1.* NoHitWonder: Dr. Steel has a large and growing fanbase, though he's only released five albums (three of those via digital download) and never charted.* NonuniformUniform: While Dr. Steel did give the Toy Soldiers a general guideline for uniforms, he also encouraged incorporating individual expression into them, resulting in a myriad of interpretations on the theme.* NowBuyTheMerchandise: Dr. Steel's homage to the Home Shopping Network in ''The Dr. Steel Show'', Episode 1. (Dr. Steel is a toymaker, so what do you expect?) Also sung about in his song, ''Back and Forth'': "You can think for yourselves / Or you can buy all my toys ... Consume and gobble it up..."[[/folder]]

[[folder:Tropes O-R]]* ObfuscatingInsanity: ''"Hello, my name is Dr. Phineas Waldolf Steel and I'm crazy. At least that's what they tell me. It's a real load off of my mind too. I mean you can get away with pretty much anything if you're bonkers. It really relieves a lot of pressure and responsibility for me."''* OmnidisciplinaryScientist: Dr. Steel's [=PhD=] is never elaborated on (according to him, he is a "doctor of reality engineering"), but he's "displayed" skills in engineering, mathematics, biology, medicine, chemicals...* OminousOperaCape: Steel has a PVC one, but is rarely seen wearing it.* OurLawyersAdvisedThisTrope: Parodied. At the beginning of the Propaganda DVD, an FBI warning screen pops up... [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuDM_l0khNw but the words are not what you were expecting.]]* PassingTheTorch: In his final letter to the Toy Soldiers, Dr. Steel claimed that he was forced to give up being Dr. Steel, and everything that went with that name. But in one last act of defiance, he handed ownership of his fan club, Toy Soldiers Unite, to his fans, that they could continue on.* PercussiveMaintenance: In ''The Dr. Steel Show'', Episode 3, Dr. Steel's last resort in silencing a broken videophone is to take a giant sledgehammer to it.* PinealWeirdness: Dr. Steel's PSA, "Imagination."* PointyHairedBoss: The "bankers in charge" in "Lament for a Toy Factory."* PolkaDork: Averted. Dr. Steel played the accordion and was pretty damn cool.* PowerBornOfMadness: "I am crazy, and I will become World Emperor." "You can get away with pretty much anything if you're bonkers."* PowersThatBe: Dr. Steel refers to them as the "Alien Illuminati", and at times as "The System." He believes that government, media, religion ''et. al.'' are all being controlled by an unseen cabal, which in turn are controlling us.* {{Precursors}}: Some of Steel's music and videos, most notably his song "Planet X Marks the Spot", deal with the AncientAstronauts theories of Zechariah Sitchin. * PresentPeeking: In "The Dr. Steel Christmas Special", Doctor Steel gets impatient and decides to open some of his presents early.-->''"My Christmas tree is simply overflowing with kind gifts. Thank you ever so much. I certainly cannot wait until Christmas. And so... [''RecordScratch''] I won't!"''* PropagandaMachine: Actually more VoiceOfTheResistance against the modern government/media propaganda machines (and supposed alien influences). Dr. Steel is a master of using propaganda and propagandic art to spread his Utopian Playland message, which his fans/followers (known as Toy Soldiers) happily disseminate.** All that said, I defy you to find another revolutionary and/or government who can (as noted below) actually put the word "Propaganda" on all his propaganda and get away with it.* PublicDomainArtifact: "Curse of the Crystal Skull".* PublicServiceAnnouncement: Dr. Steel has made several of these and posted them on Website/YouTube. He also has mock [[PublicServiceAnnouncement PSAs]] within his films ''The Dr. Steel Show'', Episodes 1 and 2.* PuppetShows: His live performances featured one, which included both hand and stick puppets.* PuttingOnTheReich: Subverted: the "Toy Soldier" uniforms satirically mimic and playfully deconstruct the uniforms of fascist paramilitary groups.* PyroManiac: Dr. Steel destroys the toy factory that fired him with bombs and gasoline-filled Super Soakers.* RadioVoice: The aforementioned epigraphs all have radio voices. (They are mostly sampled from old Public Service Announcements such as "Duck and Cover".)[[quoteright:180:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/180-steelsoldier.jpg]][[caption-width-right:180:[[http://www.toysoldiersunite.com/application.php ENLIST TODAY!!]]]]* RagtagBunchOfMisfits: Dr. Steel has turned his fanbase, which largely consists of {{Steampunk}}s, [[{{Industrial}} Rivetheads]], {{Goth}}s, {{nerd}}s, {{geek}}s and other assorted "misfits", into [[AscendedFanboy an army]] (the [[http://www.toysoldiersunite.com Army of Toy Soldiers]]).* RatedGForGangsta: Subverted. Dr. Steel is a rare example of a rapper who rarely ever swears, or even engages in innuendo.** Technically, he has used the words "hell" (in "Marionette") and "bastards" (in "Lament for a Toy Factory"), but he is far less vulgar than most rappers (if he can even be called one).*** "Ode to Revenge" contains one instance of "shit" and "Childhood (Don't) A Go-Go" has "cracker jack-ass," although the latter is rather difficult to make out without a lyrics sheet.* RayGun: Lyrics from "The Dr. Steel Show": "What fun, I've built a Ronald [=McRaygun=]!"* RealMenWearPink: A pair of fuzzy bunny slippers are a part of Dr. Steel's lounging wardrobe. (He's also been photographed with a teddy bear.)* RecordNeedleScratch: In ''The Dr. Steel Christmas Special''.--> "My christmas tree is simply overflowing with kind gifts. Thank you, ever so much. I simply cannot wait until Christmas. And so... I won't!"* RedAndBlackAndEvilAllOver: Inverted: The Toy Soldier color scheme, until around 2011, was black with red (and yellow) accents. Somewhat [[JustifiedTrope justified]], as they are a parody of evil organizations. (Since the Doctor's retirement, use of red has been diminished.)* ReluctantRetiree: Hinted in the DearJohnLetter he sent to one of the Commanders of the Toy Soldiers.* RenaissanceMan: Dr. Steel is a musician, toymaker, roboticist, graphic artist, Internet personality - and has some great dance moves.* RestartTheWorld: Steel seems to advocate the anarchist version of this trope in "Ode to Revenge". --> This is the only way\\To build a better day\\So let me hear you say\\Let’s burn it all down. * {{Revenge}}: One of Dr. Steel's prime motivations.* RobotMaster: Creating an army of giant robots, and having a robot band. And a lot of robot toys.* RobotWar: Dr. Steel self describes himself as "The man with a plan and a mechanical band", has a song called "Build the Robots", and has a [[HumongousMecha giant robot army]] as one of his backup plans for world domination if the whole musical brainwashing idea doesn't pan out.* RushmoreRefacement: In ''The Dr. Steel Show'' Episode 2, a team of Toy Soldiers call Dr. Steel from the top of Mount Rushmore, informing him of their plans to alter Lincoln's head to look like Dr. Steel. It doesn't quite go according to plan...[[/folder]]

[[folder:Tropes S-T]]* SanityHasAdvantages: Inverted. ''"I mean you can get away with pretty much anything if you're bonkers."''* SavingChristmas: Dr. Steel takes over Christmas (and kills half of Santa's elves) in ''[[http://www.toysoldiersunite.com/media/mp3/adrsteelchristmasmp3.mp3 A Dr. Steel Christmas]]''.* ScannableMan: Dr. Steel has a bar code tattoo on the back of his neck.* ScoutOut: The Toy Scouts in the Army of Toy Soldiers.* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: In July 2011 it was announced that Dr. Steel had decided to retire. His fan club, however, continues on, having become more of a creative community in recent years anyway.** Averted, as it was apparently a forced retirement.* SelfTitledAlbum: His albums ''Dr. Steel'', ''[[NumberedSequels Dr. Steel II]]: [[OddlyNamedSequel2ElectricBoogaloo Eclectic Boogaloo]]'', ''The Dr. Steel Collection'' and the ''Dr. Steel Read-A-Long''. (Also extends to his video series, ''The Dr. Steel Show''.)* SeriousBusiness: The old lady on the phone in ''The Dr. Steel Show'', Episode 1 thinks she is calling about Toys/BeanieBabies, not buzzsaw babies. She is obsessed with Beanie Babies and has every last one of them except "Little Puddin, the blue and white sea lion", and needs her collection to be complete so she can finally sleep at night.* ShoutOut: Numerous.** His song ''The Dr. Steel Show'' mentions and contains the tune of ''[[SouthPacific Bali Ha'i]]'', referencing his secret island base.*** It also contains part of the tune of ''Series/HRPufnstuf'' (which also takes place on a mystical island), plus a quote from the theme song "Can't do a little 'cuz he can't do enough".** ''Spaceboy'' samples ''[[TwoThousandOneASpaceOdyssey Also Sprach Zarathustra]]''.*** ''Spaceboy'' itself is a shout out to [[ComicStrip/CalvinAndHobbes Spaceman Spiff]]** The end of his song, ''Lullabye-bye'', contains the beginning of the Eurythmics' ''Sweet Dreams Are Made Of This''.** The opening lines of his song, ''Ode to Revenge'', are a very twisted version of Nat King Cole's ''Nature Boy''.** The song "Series/LandOfTheLost", itself an {{Homage}} to the Sid and Marty Krofft show, has a literal shout out, with a sample of Rita Moreno's "HEY YOU GUYS!" from ''TheElectricCompany''.** In his video, "Reality Engineering", he's shown working controls as a green curtain is pulled aside, a shout-out to ''Film/TheWizardOfOz''.** ''Atomic Superstar'' is about Godzilla** ''Donkey Town'' is about Pleasure Island from ''Disney/{{Pinocchio}}''.*** And the chorus contains a sample of people chanting "[[{{Freaks}} Gooble Gobble! Gooble Gobble! One of Us! One of Us!]]"** ''Slapped By Moe'' is an ode to Film/TheThreeStooges*** As well as containing references to ''ComicStrip/CalvinAndHobbes''.* TheSingularity: Song title, word for word. The song deals more with transhumanism (merging humanity with AI and nanotech) and other possible consequences of the Singularity than with the Singularity itself, though.** Steel has also been interviewed by a transhumanist institute and authored a paper on the subject.* SinisterShades: He has yet to be seen without his thick black-lensed goggle-glasses. (In his music video for "Back and Forth", they [[ScaryShinyGlasses reflect nonexistent flames]].)* SkeleBot9000: Dr. Steel's robots are built this way, very lanky and skeletal with oversized, [[CheshireCatGrin cheshire-grinning]] heads.* SkywardScream: Used in ''The Dr. Steel Show'', Episode 1. As Dr. Steel checks his email, he becomes frustrated that his inbox is full of spam, and [[MilkingTheGiantCow cries to the heavens]] (with accompanying [[{{Sting}} jarring chord]]), "Damn thee, spam! DAMN THEEEEEE!"* StageNames: Steel's real name has never been revealed, although there have been several speculations over the years. Steel prefers to keep his real identity secret, to avoid crazed stalkers.* StartOfDarkness: ''[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvOJHyDypf8 Lament for a Toy Factory]]''.* StationIdent: Many "station bugs" for stations such as CNN, NBC and VH-1 appear in Dr. Steel's propaganda film, ''Building a Utopian Playland'', giving it the illusion that it is a genuine documentary.* {{Steampunk}}: While not overtly, several artistic stylings are reminiscent of this, and he dresses that way when not in his labcoat.* StockSoundEffects: During the "hidden" subliminal message track on a couple of his albums, in the background there's the pop and hiss of an old vinyl record.* StopMotion: His toys in his [[http://vimeo.com/14623042 "Childhood (Don't) A-Go Go" video]] and ''The Dr. Steel Show'' Episode 2.* StrangeSalute: In several of his propaganda posters, Dr. Steel is shown saluting with his fist over his heart, looking up and (usually) to his right (toward a better future?). This has become the ''de facto'' salute of the Toy Soldiers.* SubliminalSeduction: Dr. Steel uses subliminal messages and images in a lot of his videos.** [[IncrediblyLamePun More like ]][[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin subliminally seductive....]]** The multimedia displays during his stage shows also contained such messages.* SubvertedKidsShow: His video series, ''The Dr. Steel Show'' is largely this. Also his song, "Smokey's Theme". His live performances include [[PerversePuppet puppet]] shows, some of which are ''extremely'' subverted. (One of his recurring gags was he would be interrupted by a [[Series/LambChopsPlayAlong Lamb Chop]]-esque puppet, who was so annoyingly cute that he would eventually pull a revolver out and shoot it.)* [[RidiculouslyHumanRobots Sufficiently Humanoid Robots]]- Dr. Steel's robot band. Which malfunction on his Propaganda DVD, but finally work in [[http://vimeo.com/14623042 his video for ]]"[[http://vimeo.com/14623042 Childhood (Don't) A-Go-Go]]". [[spoiler:At least in miniature...]]* {{Supervillain}}: Obviously...* [[SuperheroSchool Supervillain School]]: in the web video, ''[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gyi0qEvB03A Reunion]]'', Dr. Steel calls up fellow mad scientist AgamemnonTiberiusVacuum and invites him to the 10th annual Mad Scientist's reunion - implying that they may have attended some Mad Scientist school together in the past.* SynchroVox: Hamster 65's mouth in ''The Dr. Steel Show'' Episode 2 is animated this way.* TakeOverTheWorld: Dr. Steel's overall goal, to become [[EmperorScientist World Emperor]].* [[SavingChristmas Taking Over Christmas]]: Dr. Steel does this in ''[[http://www.toysoldiersunite.com/media/mp3/adrsteelchristmasmp3.mp3 A Dr. Steel Christmas]]''.* ThatMakesMeFeelAngry: In his PSA, ''Reality Engineering'', After ranting about how we are being manipulated by the government and media, Dr. Steel says people might dismiss him as a conspiracy nut, a madman. To that he says, "Oh, I'm mad. Very mad. Very ''very'' mad."* {{Theremin}}: Several of Dr. Steel's songs encorporate the theremin (or at least samples of theremins).* TheyCalledMeMad: Dr. Steel originally worked quite happily at a toy plant, until his more...radical toy ideas. They said no.* TitledAfterTheSong: ''The Dr. Steel Show''.* TooManyBelts: The doctor has a three-belted cummerbund-like leather garment that he wears atop his waistcoat, in his {{Steampunk}} attire.* TripodTerror: The album cover for ''People of Earth'' shows an attack by giant tripod robots reminiscent of Literature/TheWarOfTheWorlds - only in the foreground it shows Dr. Steel controlling them. (A similar tripod is seen in the background of the album art for ''The Dr. Steel Read-A-Long''.)* TurnedAgainstTheirMasters: Dr. Steel foresaw a future where robotic life would eventually take over the world.* TvNeverLies: Steel believed we were all being intentionally manipulated by the media, especially by television. In his song "Back and Forth", he throws in this gem of irony:--> "TV is the loving eye of education."[[/folder]]

[[folder:Tropes U-Z]]* UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans: Played perfectly straight--Dr. Steel wants to deconstruct all of society to create a Utopian Playland.* VillainousLament: "Lament for a Toy Factory".* VillainProtagonist: He's a criminally insane mad scientist bent on world domination. What's not to love?* VillainSong: Quite a few of them. As a supervillain musician, you know.* VillainWithGoodPublicity: A rare IRL example!** His publicity is so good that his propaganda can be directly labeled "Propaganda" and we don't even give a slap because he's that awesome.* VocalDissonance: In ''The Dr. Steel Show'' Episode 1, Dr. Steel [[FourthWallMailSlot gets an email from a fan]]. The voiceover as he reads the childlike letter sounds like a three year old boy. But if you read the screen closely at the bottom of the letter, it says, "Billy Ramos, 34 years old."* WaistcoatOfStyle: When not in his labcoat, Dr. Steel often wears a cool leather waistcoat that buckles in the front.* WeInterruptThisProgram: Dr. Steels song, "Greedy", starts out with a news bulletin about three escaped prisoners of an insane asylum (one of them, we gather, is Dr. Steel).* WellIntentionedExtremist: See UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans, above.* WhereDoesHeGetAllThoseWonderfulToys: He makes them himself, of course!* WritersCannotDoMath: Averted, apparently Dr. Steel's math is quite good.* YeOldeButcheredeEnglishe: "Damn Thee Spam, DAMN THEE!"* YouLookLikeYouveSeenAGhost: In Episode 1 of ''The Dr. Steel Show'', Dr. Steel sees a ghostly vision of a magical transforming toy ("Winky") hovering about his lab, but it disappears into an air duct before he can get a Polaroid snapshot of it. Slightly inverted as he was more awed by it than scared.** As the credits roll, he apparently sees it again, but this time only he sees it, and his nurses look at him like he's crazy.* Website/YouTube: You can find most of his propaganda videos and [[PublicServiceAnnouncement PSAs]] here.* VillainHasAPoint: He wants to control the world with giant robots. But only so we can all be released from our drudgery and fear to play and have fun in life.* WeNeedADistraction: In "The Dr. Steel Show" Episode 2, the Toy Soldiers deploy a "distraction division" of girls washing cars in bikinis so that their activities will go unnoticed.* WhatDoYouMeanItsForKids: Dr. Steel's whole concept for "The Dr. Steel Show" was that of a kid's show that was just a little bit... warped. He also had a song, supposedly for a proposed kid's show, called "Smokey the Kid-Loving Trout" (graphic for this song on his website showed a stinking hobo-like anthropomorphic trout, complete with stogie, walking with children).* WickedToymaker: Not necessarily ''wicked'', per se, but Dr. Steel is most definitely a creator of twisted toys. "Buzzsaw Babies", "Rabies Babies", "Polly Pukes-A-Lot", and gasoline-filled Super Soakers, just to name a few. * TheWonka: Dr. Steel was president of his own toy company, World Domination Toys.* [[WidgetSeries WHAT Band]]: Steel was both weird and funny. (How could "babies with buzzsaws" be anything else?)* {{Zeerust}}: Almost all of Dr. Steel's artwork is sci-fi through [[{{Steampunk}} Victorian]] or [[{{Dieselpunk}} Diesel-era]] tinted goggles.* ZeroesAndOnes: In the song "Fibonacci Sequence". "All our gods and heroes / are only ones and zeroes." [[/folder]]